County firefighters hold memorial service in Mahanoy City

andy matsko/staff photos
ABOVE: The 59th annual Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association memorial service was held Sunday at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City. Tom Ward Jr., Mahanoy City, plays taps following the reading of names of fallen firefighters. TOP: Firefighters process down Mahanoy Avenue on their way to the church. BELOW: Bernadette Jespersen of the Wyoming Valley Pipe and Drums group plays "Amazing Grace" as the firefighters walk to the church.

MAHANOY CITY - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church was filled with firefighters, families and friends Sunday for the 59th annual Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association memorial service.

The annual service is held to begin the annual weeklong county firefighters convention, which is being hosted this year by the Citizens Fire Company No. 2 and Mahanoy City EMS. The convention coincides with the borough's 150th anniversary celebration this week. The firefighters convention/sesquicentennial parade will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Firefighters and emergency medical service members in uniform gathered at the Citizens Firehouse about an hour before the 4 p.m. ecumenical service, preparing to march to the church. A fireman's arch was erected on West Mahanoy Street by ladder trucks from Citizens and the Washington Hook and Ladder companies. The procession marched under the arch, led by bagpiper Bernadette Jespersen, and into the church. Clergy present included the Rev. Kevin Gallagher, the Rev. Fred T. Crawford III, the Rev. Robert Adams, the Rev. Janet Kline, the Rev. John Reid and the Rev. Gary Mensinger.

After the singing of the national anthem, the welcome was presented by Gallagher, pastor of Blessed Teresa church.

"Please realize that our prayers go with you as you go forth on all your endeavors as you help our community, not just here but in so many other places," Gallagher said. "Today we pray that God will continue to watch over you, bless you and keep you safe always. Thank you for all you do."

Citizens Fire Company President Harry Wagner Jr. spoke about the inspiration from family members and others who influenced so many men and women to become volunteers in the fire service. He remembered his father, Harry Wagner Sr., who did it for him.

"If it wasn't for him 50 years ago, taking me out to the hose house, it instilled that seed in me to become a firefighter. I want to say 'Thank you, Dad,' for doing that," Wagner said.

The call to worship was made by Adams, followed by scriptural readings. The first reading was by Mary Macleary, whose late husband, Paul, was a former Mahanoy City fire chief. The psalm reading was read by Mallory Dulsky, whose grandfather, William, was a member of the Citizens Fire Company and represented the families of fallen firefighters who did not return from a fire call.

Gabby Smith, a current junior firefighter from Citizens Fire Company who represents the current and future generation of firefighters, did the second reading.

After Mensinger read the Gospel, Crawford gave the sermon, noting his own connection as a member of fire companies in Mahanoy City and Tamaqua. He asked everyone to remember the volunteer firefighters who have passed away in the past 12 months.

Crawford also remembered being invited in 1973 by Daniel "Lou" Brown to become a volunteer with the Washington Hook and Ladder Company in Mahanoy City about one month after he became pastor of Christ Lutheran Church. That scenario repeated itself after his transfer to pastor in Tamaqua.

"Being a volunteer firefighter is not something you do to pass the time of day," Crawford said. "It is something that helps shape who you are. It helps shape your life. It also helps the community that you serve."

He quoted author Kurt Vonnegut, saying, "I cannot think of a greater symbol of man's humanity to man than a fire truck," which comes from Vonnegut's novel, "The Sirens of Titan."

"I think we can humanize that quote and change 'fire truck' to 'firefighter," he said. "Today we memorialize those we have lost this year, but as the bell rings and as the silence hangs heavy, I ask you to raise up in your own minds in blessed memory the name of that one who inspired you to do what you do, who inspired you to take the chances you take because what they did still encourages you, which is a symbol of man's humanity to man. It also has something to do with our Lord's command to love one another."

The commemoration and prayer was by Reid, followed by remembrance of four county association members who died in the past year. Mark Bernardyn went to the sanctuary to read the following names, after which John "Bucky" Rogers rang a bell:

- Joseph Gudonis, Rangers Hose Company, Girardville.

- Michael Stoppi, South Cass Citizens Fire Company.

- Joseph Heiler, Phoenix Fire Company No. 2, Shenandoah.

- Dr. William "Bill" Krash, Defender Hose Company No. 3, Shenandoah.

The bell was also rung for all departed firefighters from fire companies throughout the county who were not named.

The 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, part of the Prescott Fire Department, Arizona, who lost their lives on June 30 battling a wildfire, also were remembered.

Tom Ward Jr. played taps and Jesperson played a song of remembrance. Everyone recited "The Firefighers Prayer."

The sesquicentennial celebration will come to a formal conclusion at 7 p.m. Sunday with a Service of Evening Prayer at Christ Lutheran Church, Main and Mahanoy streets. The homilist will be the Rev. Martin Kern.

The annual Schuylkill County Firefighters Memorial Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at the fire training grounds along the Morea Road near Frackville.

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